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25 attacks on schools, 1,440 students abducted in 2021 in Nigeria, says UNICEF
25 attacks on schools, 1,440 students abducted in 2021 in Nigeria, says UNICEF
By: James Bwala, Maiduguri
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said there have been 25 attacks on schools this year, with 1,440 students abducted in Nigeria.
This statistics was given on Tuesday even as UNICEF revealed that over the past five years, the West and Central Africa region has consistently had some of the highest numbers of United Nations-verified grave violations against children in armed conflict.
A statement on Tuesday from the UN agency also claimed that since 2016, the West and Central Africa region ranks first in the world in terms of number of children verified as recruited and used by non-state armed groups and victims of sexual violence, ranks second in terms of abduction, as one of the regions most affected by attacks on schools and hospitals, with more than 1,500 verified incidents.
According to the statement, the data was revealed in a new UNICEF publication that calls for increased support for efforts to prevent and respond to grave violations against children, as well as for scaling-up the documentation of such violations.
It said: “Since 2016, West and Central Africa has recorded more than 21,000 children verified by the United Nations (UN) as recruited and used by armed forces and non-state armed groups, and more than 2,200 children victims of sexual violence. More than 3,500 children were abducted and more than 1,500 incidents of attacks on schools and hospitals were recorded.
UNICEF, while lamented that in Nigeria, there have been 25 attacks on schools so far this year, with 1,440 students abducted, said Nigerian children continue to suffer the impact of crisis.
It decried that a protracted conflict has been raging in north-east Nigeria for 12 years now, with thousands of children in the region killed, maimed, abducted, displaced, and experienced multiple violations of their human rights.
UNICEF recalled that in 2005, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1612 to establish a United Nations mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the following six grave violations against children during armed conflict: which include killing and maiming of children, recruitment and use of children, abduction of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence committed against children, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
It lamented that since 2005, 1 out of 4 United Nations verified grave violations in the world was committed in West and Central Africa, insisting that last year alone, over 6,400 children (32 per cent of whom were girls) were victims of one or more grave violations in the region.
The statement quoted UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office in Nigeria, Phuong Nguyen to have said: “Nigerian children – whether they are the direct targets of violence or collateral victims of conflict – are caught up in the ongoing insecurity we are seeing across the country. This is unacceptable,”
“This important report shows the extent of the grave violations of children’s rights in Nigeria and across the West and Central Africa region – violations that must be ended by all parties to conflict. Children must have an opportunity to grow, learn, work and contribute to the healthy future of this country. That can only happen if they are protected from violence and the worst impacts of conflict.”
Major humanitarian crises continue to unfold across West and Central Africa. The situation in Cameroon, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and multi-country emergencies, including crises in the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin region, are having devastating consequences on children and communities.
With a surge in armed conflicts and the COVID-19 pandemic, 57.5 million children in West and Central Africa are in need of humanitarian assistance, a figure that has almost doubled since 2020. 5.1million of those children in need of humanitarian assistance are in Nigeria.
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In response to the spike in children’s unmet essential needs, including protection, UNICEF has been working with governments, local authorities and partners to strengthen the monitoring and reporting mechanism, support the release and reintegration of children from armed forces and groups, reunite separated children with their families, provide medical and psychosocial care for conflict-affected children, and provide care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
“Mental health and psychosocial support for children and adolescents are essential and at the heart of UNICEF’s humanitarian response. When provided with the necessary care and psychosocial support, access to schooling and access to livelihoods, children are able to process what they have experienced and rebuild their lives,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa.
UNICEF called for all partners, including relevant governments and donors, to intensify their efforts to secure adequate financial and technical resources to ensure that grave violations are reported and verified, and for support for children affected by conflict.
UNICEF also called on all parties to conflict in the region to prevent and end grave violations against children, and to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
25 attacks on schools, 1,440 students abducted in 2021 in Nigeria, says UNICEF
250 female golfers storms Minna for Northern zone National championship
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The female golfers association of Nigeria is organizing a national championship featuring 250 ladies from across the Country on a four days championship at the Minna Military Cantonment.
Vice President of the ladies Golf Association, Dr. Onayi Ahmed while speaking to Sports writers in Minna during the teeing off the championship noted that the 250 female golfers are drawn from over 25 golf clubs from the North and other invited golfers across the country.
She explained that, the Lady golfers decided to shift the hosting of the championship from Abuja to Minna to encourage more women embracing the game of golf in other parts of the Country.
She also hinted that they had equally played at Kano before coming to Minna adding that their intention was to popularize the game of golf across the Country especially among the womenfolk.
The lady golfers association’s Vice President disclosed that the championship is a world amateur golf rating standard competition that is to be played in over 54 holes from Wednesday 18th June to today Saturday 21st of June 2025.
According to her, to spice up the event men will be allowed to participate as guest players stressing that the event is aimed at fostering unity, peace and promoting expertise among the womenfolk in the country.
She further noted that, the championship of the competition from day one Thursday is for ladies with handicap 0 to 28 and those in handicap category of 29 to 36 as well as veteran ladies.
The final round of the four days championship will produce the best 45 ladies who are to make the final cut even as the men handicap 0 to 28 will also play their final on Saturday.
As a rewards, the best three performing clubs are expected to smile home with rewards later today.
250 female golfers storms Minna for Northern zone National championship
IOM Applauds Nigeria’s Migration Reforms, Disaster Preparedness
** As VP Shettima calls for collaboration to tackle migration, ecological disruptions
By: Our Reporter
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has commended Nigeria’s significant strides in migration governance and disaster preparedness.
This is just as Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for enhanced partnership to address the humanitarian challenges facing crisis-affected regions across the country.
He said there was an urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the interconnected problems of climate change and migration across Nigeria, as they are directly linked to the economic well-being of the population.
Speaking on Friday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the IOM led by its Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Sharon Dimanche, at the Presidential Villa, the Vice President called for practical and inclusive solutions to the complex intersection of migration, poverty, conflict, and ecological disruption.
“I have worked with the IOM for a long time, from my days as Governor in Borno State, and I must commend your remarkable interventions in supporting our people. But much more pragmatic and all-inclusive solutions are needed.
“I urge you to support us in the North Central, so we can have a win-win, workable solution that fosters unity and brings progress to our people,” VP Shettima said.
He decried poverty, illiteracy, and environmental degradation fuelling displacement and insecurity across several regions, saying, “There is an incestuous relationship between ecology and economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
“You cannot divorce the challenges of migration from climate-induced effects. Even the crises in the North-East, North-West and North-Central have direct links between poverty and violence,” he added.
Quoting civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Shettima added: “We must either learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to die together as fools. We are essentially one people with a common destiny, united by our common challenges. We have no business fighting each other. We should fight poverty, illiteracy, and gender disempowerment.”
He also urged the IOM to scale up support for gender empowerment and land reclamation efforts, particularly in areas affected by deforestation and displacement.
In her remarks, IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, praised Nigeria’s ongoing efforts in migration governance and disaster preparedness, noting that the diversity of the country presents both challenges and opportunities for tailored interventions.
“Since I came to Nigeria, what I have seen is remarkable. Every state is different. It’s like one Africa wrapped into one country. We are particularly impressed with the launch of the State Action Plan on Floods and the Framework for Anticipatory Action for Nigeria,” Dimanche said.
She reaffirmed the IOM’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s durable solutions agenda, including through data provision, shelter support, climate resilience initiatives, and youth empowerment.
“As I take over office, we seek the government’s guidance on areas to focus. One of our key priorities is working to provide sustainable solutions and opportunities for people affected by crisis.
“I will like to request for a special initiative where we can co-work with your office and mobilise resources for more durable solutions to immigration, youth empowerment and climate resilience,” she stated.
IOM Applauds Nigeria’s Migration Reforms, Disaster Preparedness
VP Shettima Joins President Tinubu For Juma’at Prayers In Abuja
By: Our Reporter
Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside several other government officials, joined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Juma’at prayers on Friday at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque, Wuse 2, Abuja.
The delegation included the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, and the governors of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Kaduna State, Sen. Uba Sani; Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni; and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Barau Jibrin.
The prayers were also offered in honour of President Tinubu’s late mother, Hajiya Abibatu Mogaji.
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